Handbag frame



Dec. 23, 194-1. LAUBENSTEN 2,267,611

HANDBAG FRAME Filed Aug. 24, 1938 w QINVENTOR i m M4 4 ATTORNEYS,

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 HANDBAG FRAME George Laubenstein, Madison, N. J., assignor to The J. E. Mergott Company, Newark, N. J., a

corporation of Delaware Application August 24, 1938, Serial No. 226,436

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to hand bags and more particularly to frames for such hand bags and to constructions and methods of assembling such frames for single or double hand bags at the option of the hand bag manufacturer.

In my copending application Serial No. 213,742 filed June 15, 1938, for Hand bag frames and methods of assembling the same, I have referred to the fact that in the manufacture of double hand bags a problem is presented due to the fact that two frames are necessary, one for the outer or main hand bag and a second for the inner pocket book or purse. It is diificult to ship, assemble and cover double hand bag frames and it is expensive to carry the necessary double frames for such hand-bags in stock. In my said application I have disclosed one construction and method of assembling inner and outer hand bag frames so that single or double bags can be made at the option of the manufacturer, said construction including an assembly means whereby the inner and outer frames may be quickly and easily assembled together without the use of tools by the bag manufacturer.

According to the present invention improved assembly means are afforded for uniting the inner and outer frames of a double hand bag. This invention relates to assembly means per se and to the special combination of the inner and outer frames as united by the assembly means and as described and referred to herein.

One of the features of this invention resides in the use of a uniting member for uniting the inner and outer frames of a double hand bag, said uniting member being made of sheet metal and preferably being a unitary piece of sheet metal produced by the inexpensive method of stamping.

Other features of this invention relate to the locking arrangement for keeping the two frames locked together by means of the uniting members and to the means for maintaining the locking lug in position to prevent the withdrawal of the uniting members from the frames. Preferably the locking lugs in some embodiments of this invention are mounted on or for cooperation with resilient arm members or the like so that the frames can be united by first attaching the uniting members to one of the frames and then snapping the uniting members into openings in the legs of the other of the frames. It is also a feature of some embodiments of this invention that the uniting members themselves present parts that maintain the locking lugs in position ings in the frames. Features such as those above mentioned are adapted for use not only when the uniting members are made of sheet metal, e. g., spring steel, but also when made of other materials.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects and features as may hereinafter appear this invention consists in the methods of assembly, construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof which shows merely for the purpose of illustrative disclosure, several embodiments of my invention, it being expressly understood, however, that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims without digressing from my inventive idea.

In the drawing in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an outer hand bag frame and an inner purse frame and associated parts embodying my invention assembled to form a double bag.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational detail view partially in vertical section at one end of two assembled frames adjacent the hinges thereof showing the relationship of the frames and the connecting parts when so assembled.

Fig. 3 is a detail view partially in section on line 3, 3 of Fig. -2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one form of uniting member which may be employed according to this invention.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of inner purse and outer hand bag frames of somewhat different construction in assembled relationship illustrating a modified form of interconnecting means for assembling the outer frame with the inner frame.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the uniting member which is embodied in the structur shown in Fig. 5 and which is adapted to unite the inner and outer frames.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged front elevation detail view showing an alternative assembly means for uniting the inner and outer frames.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the uniting member embodied in the structure shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a front elevational detail view partially in vertical section showing an alternate form of uniting member for uniting the inner and outer hand bag frames.

Fig. 10 is a perspectiv view, with the parts separated, of an alternative embodiment of this to prevent the withdrawal of the lugs from openinvention illustrating a modified form of uniting member for assembling the outer hand bag frame with an inner purse frame.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged elevational detail view illustrating the locking means for locking the uniting member shown in the structure of Fig. 10 with one of the frames.

Referring to the drawing in Fig. 1, there is shown an outer or main hand bag frame indicated generally by the reference character I9 and an inner or smaller purse frame indicated generally by the reference character II, both of said frames in this particular embodiment being substantially U-shaped. Such frames may be of standard construction. In the embodiment shown the outer frame II] comprises two separate members I6 and III having channeled or tubular cross sections, each member being bent to substantially U-shape. The legs III and I of said members are suitably hinged together, the lower ends of said legs III and I6 of each of these members being provided respectively with bent or otherwise curved tubular ears I2 and I3 respectively which are offset "from the leg members into axial alinement. The axially alined ears of each pair of legs are pivotally joined together by a binding member or rivet I4 or the like so that the two members I9 and I are hinged together and may be rotated to- .wards or away from each other to close or open the bag.

The inner frame I I 'is shown as comprising two U-shape members II and II having channeled or tubular cross sections and whose legs II 3 and H at their lower ends are provided with ears I6 and I5 respectively, adjacent ears being adapted to overlap each other and to be pivotally'connected by eyelets or hollow rivets I! or the like so that the two members II- and H are hinged together and may be rotated toward or away from each other to close or. open theinner pocket book or purse. The customary latching members I8 are provided on the inner frame members and likewise may, if desired, be provided 'on the outer frame members.

As shown in Fig. 1, the inner frame II has substantially smaller overall dimensions than the outer frame It so that it will lie wholly within the completed outer bag when assembled with the outer frame.

For assembly purposes I provide a uniting member which in one form is shown per se in Fig. 4 and is indicated generally by the reference character I 9. This uniting member is made of stamped sheet metal and is preferablymade of a resilient metal such as spring steel. '.At one end of this uniting member is a pin 20 which is of sufficiently small diameter to permit the insertion of the pin within the eyelet or hollow rivet I'I. When the pin 20 is inserted in the hollow rivet II the pin may be secured in place by forming a head 2I at the end thereof in a way known in the art so that the hollow rivet I! may be held between head 2I and shoulder 22 of the uniting member I9.

In this embodiment of my invention uniting member I9 includes a slotted portion 23 so as to provide the resilient arms 24 and 24'. At the ends of these arms are reduced portions I24 and I24 beyond which are looking or key lugs 25 and 25'.

The legs I and I0 of the outer frame present on the interior thereof flattened portions I0 and I6 and adjacent the ears I2 and I3 the flattened portion of leg I0 includes an elongated slot 26. This slot is of approximately the samewidth as the Width of the body of the sheet metal'of the uniting member I9. The length of the slot 26 is somewhat less than the normal maximum spacing of the locking lugs 25 and 25'. Since, however, the locking lugs 25 and 25 can be brought closer to each other by bending the arms 24 and 24' out of normal position, the locking lugs can be inserted into the slot 26 and the resiliency of the metal of these arms causes the locking lugs 25 and 25' to snap into place when the locking lugs have been fully inserted so that the uniting member becomes locked in place. The resiliency "of the arms 24 and 24 serves as means for keeping the locking lugs locked in place so that the uniting member cannot be readily displaced in the normal use of the hand bag.

It is to be noted from Figs. 2 and 4 that the arms each increase in width outwardly from the common support and that the reduced portions I24 and I24 result in providing abutments or shoulders I25 and I 25 on the arms 24 and 24' which have their greatest width at said abutments. Since the length of the slot 26 is somewhat less than the maximum width of said member I9 at these shoulders or abutments, the latter are adapted to engage one side of the wall of frame leg I0 about the said slot 26. Further it is to be noted from these two figures that the overall dimensions between outer extremities of the locking lugs 25 and 25 is somewhat less than that of the corresponding dimensions of the abutments or shoulders I25 and I25.

The use of the device shown in'Figs. 1 to 4 is believed to be apparent. The frames I0 and II and the uniting member I9 are shipped unassembled to the hand bag manufacturer by the frame manufacturer and the former either utilizes one or the other of the frames alone for (single hand bags or may assemble an outer and inner frame for making a double handbag as follows: The pin portion. 26 of the uniting member I9 is inserted through the hollow rivet I1 and the uniting member is maintained in place by forming the head 2| on the end of the pin 29. The outer frame II) and the inner frame II are :then covered separately with the bag covering materials A and B indicated in'Fig. l. The covered inner frame is thensecured to the outer frame by inserting'the locking lugs 25 and 25' of the uniting members I9 into the slot 26 in each leg 16* of the outer frame. All that is required is a momentary application of pressure sufficient to momentarily bend the arms 24 and 24' of the uniting members I9 so that'the locking lugs may snap into place. The two frames are now for all practical purposes permanently connected together and the double bag is ready for use.

If it is desired to disassemble the inner bag and the outer bag application of force which tends to withdraw the uniting member I9 from the slot 26 and which is sufficient to cause the locking lugs 25 and 25 to be forced together against the resiliency-of the arms 24 and 24 will permit the uniting members I 9 to be removed so that frames I0 and II may be separated. The uniting and disuniting of the inner and outer frames can be repeated as many times as desired by the very simple operations which have been described above.

Referring to Fig. 5 the parts shown correspond to the parts shown and described in connection with Figs. 1 1:04 with the exception of the uniting member adapted to assemble the .inner frame with the outer frame. In this modification of my invention the uniting member which isshown enlarged in Fig. 6 :is indicated generally. by the reference character 21. The uniting member 21 has at one end a pin 28 which corresponds to the pin 20 in the modification of my invention previously described. In this instance, however, the pin 28 has a groove 29 therein adapted to receive a split ring 30 so as to 1001; the pin in the hollow rivet I! in a manner which is described in more detail in my aforesaid copending application, Serial No. 213,742.

At the other end of the uniting member 21 is a locking lug 3| which protrudes from the body portion of the uniting member 21. Member 21 also presents a lug 32, the purpose of which is described below. Each of the flattened portions I and It] in this modification of my invention include two perforations, i. e., perforation 33 and perforation 34. The perforation 33 is approximately the same length as the overall length of the locking lug 3|. The opening 34 is of approximately the same size as the lug 32. The uniting member 21 can be assembled with the outer frame by first inserting the locking lug 3| completely through the opening 33 and then moving the lug downwardly so that it cannot be withdrawn from the opening 33. When this has been done the lug 32 can then be inserted in the opening 34. The lug 32 then acts as a means for preventing the displacement of the locking lug 3| from the position in which it is adapted to prevent the withdrawal of the uniting member from the opening 33. The natural resiliency of the bag frames assists in accomplishing this result and in maintaining the parts in assembled relation.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a uniting member is shown which is similar to uniting member 21 forming part of the structure shown in Fig. 5 as far as the locking lug 3| and the lug 32 are concerned. However, at the other end of the lug is the pin 28' which is longer than the pin 28 shown in Fig. 6 so that it may be inserted through the hollow rivet l4 that is used for hinging the members 0 and I0 of the outer frame. This modification of my invention is shown in order to illustrate that the uniting member made according to this invention may be detachably united with the inner frame rather than the outer frame. In a similar way the uniting member l9 may be reversed, the pin 20 being inserted in the hollow rivet l4 and locking lugs being snapped into a slot in the leg portions of the inner frame.

Fig. 9 illustrates the use of a double-ended uniting member which is indicated generally by the reference character l9. This uniting memher is generally similar to the uniting member l9 except that it has locking lugs 25 and 25 on both ends thereof. In this modification one end of uniting member l9 can be snapped into a slot 26 in the outer frame and the other end can likewise be snapped in a slot 26' in the inner frame.

In Figs. 10 and 11 another arrangement is shown utilizing a sheet metal uniting member 35. The uniting member is provided at one end with a pin having a head 36 on the end thereof, the construction being similar to the pin 20 of the uniting member I9 which has been previously described. This pin is shown as passing through the hollow rivet l1 and securing the uniting member 35 to the hollow rivet I]. At the other end of the uniting member 35 is a key-shaped locking lug 31 which is adapted to be inserted in the opening 38 in the leg |0 of the outer frame. By inserting the lug 3'! in the opening 38 and turning the uniting member 35 through 90, for example, and into the position shown in Fig. 11, the uniting member can be keyed to the outer frame so as to permanently connect the inner and outer frames of the hand bag.

In the embodiments of this invention shown in figures other than Figs. 1 to 4, the method of. assembly of the double hand bag frames and the uniting of the hand bag material therewith corresponds with that described in detail in connection with the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and further explanation is not regarded as necessary.

The use in conjunction with an adaptor of assembly means such as the assembly means hereindescribed and shown, is described and shown in my application Serial No. 226,435 executed on even date herewith for Frames for hand bags and now issued as Patent No. 2,239,648.

According to my invention as illustrated by the embodiments hereindescribed for purposes of exemplification a very inexpensive and simple device is afforded for readily uniting the inner and outer bag frames together. The uniting member can be made up and shipped separately. The uniting member can be made by the simple operation of stamping sheet metal. Furthermore, the uniting member is adapted to coact with openings in the bag frameswhich are either an integral part of the normal construction thereof such as a hollow rivet or which can be produced by some simple operation such as the stamping out of an opening in the bag frame.

It is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the exact means and methods described and that various other modifications and changes in construction and shape of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Assembly device for inner and outer frames for handbags including a uniting member of resilient sheet material comprising a pair of spaced arms integral with a common support, reduced portions at the ends of said arms forming abutments on said arms adjacent said reduced portions, the said arms each increasing in width outwardly from said common support and having their greatest width at said abutments, and locking lugs at the ends of said reduced portions, said parts being arranged so that said locking lugs may be squeezed together by bending said arms from normal position and inserting both said lugs into a single limited opening in a, part carried by one of said frames, and integral means extending from said common support in the opposite direction to said arms for attaching said member to a part on the other of said frames.

2. In a handbag having an outer handbag frame and an inner purse frame having a pair of jaws pivotally connected by hollow rivets, an assembly device uniting said two frames, said device comprising a uniting member of resilient sheet metal comprising a pair of spaced arms integral with a common support, reduced portions at the ends of said arms forming abutments on said arms adjacent said reduced portions, the said arms having their greatest width at said abutments, and locking lugs at the ends of said reduced portions, an integral pin member extending oppositely to said arms from said common support, both of said arms being capable of being squeezed toward each other and being inserted into a single limited opening in a wall of said outer frame with abutments engaging one side of said wall adjacent said opening and with the locking lugs engaging said wall on its opposite side, and said pin being inserted through one of said hollow rivets and headed at its outer end for permanent but rotatable retention in said rivet.

3. In a handbag having an outer handbag frame and an inner purse frame having a pair of jaws connected by rivets, assembly devices for uniting said two frames, each of said devices consisting of a member of resilient sheet metal and comprising a pair of spaced arms integral with a common support, reduced portions at the ends of said arms forming abutments on said arms adjacent said reduced portions, locking lugs at the ends of said reduced portions, and an integral pin member extending oppositely to said arms from said common support, and both of said arms being capable of being flexed toward each other, the locking lugs of one of said devices being inserted through a single limited opening in a wall of a leg of said outer frame with said abutments thereof engaging said wall about said opening on one side of said frame leg, said last named lugs engaging said wall at the opposite side of said frame and said pin of said one of said devices being attached to one of said rivets, and the locking lugs of a second of said devices being inserted similarly to said first named locking lugs through a single limited opening in a wall of another leg of said outer frame, and said pin of said second of said devices being attached to a second of said rivets.

4. An assembly device for uniting inner and outer frames for handbags including a uniting member of resilient sheet material comprising a pair of spaced parallelly extending arms each integral at one of its ends with a common support, each arm increasing in width along its outer edge from said one of its ends, a reduced portion ad- J'acent the other end of each arm in the outer edge thereof defining an outwardly extending shoulder on each arm adjacent its reduced portion, and a locking lug arranged on the said other end of each arm directly adjacent its said shoulder, and an integral locking pin centrally located with respect to said arms and extending from said common support in a direction opposite to that of said arms, and said arms being bendable toward each other under pressure to facilitate insertion thereof in a slot provided on one of said frames and tending to return to unbent position upon release of pressure to efiect locking engagement of said one of said frames between said lugs and said shoulders.

GEORGE LAUBENSTEIN. 

